Finance Team– Annabel Cooper (Treasurer)
Describe your DUCFS experience in 3 words
Fun, hectic, rewarding.
How is your team made up?
The finance team is the smallest DUCFS team. It is made up of myself as Treasurer and Kareena as Finance Director.
What does your team do?
I manage the budget for the campaign – this entails ensuring the teams know their individual budgets within this. I also coordinate paying invoices for events, venues etc. Together Kareena and I are oversee the auction and raffle – so finding prizes and picking which ones are suitable for each night. We also set the individual fundraising targets for the year!
Favourite thing about DUCFS?
The people !!!
What has been your team’s highlight so far?
We have loved interacting with the other teams, building friendships and all the social side which comes with working with people.
What has been the biggest challenge?
Chasing people up to hit their fundraising targets!
What about the show are you most excited for?
I’m really excited for the final night where we get to see everyone’s hard work over 9 months pay off. Hopefully we reach our fundraising target!
Partnerships Team– Evie Ng (Head of Partnerships)
Describe your DUCFS experience in 3 words
Invigorating, unpredictable and vibrant.
How is your team made up?
We are one of the biggest DUCFS executive committee teams with a total of 5 members, made up of 2 financial partnership directors and 2 product partnership directors, with myself involved in and overseeing both financial and product domains.
What does your team do?
The partnerships team is responsible for reaching out to a diverse range of organisations, in hope to receive financial or product support. Financial partnerships fuel our fundraising efforts whereby product partnerships are geared towards helping brands reach out to the Gen-Z population, raising brand awareness and market exclusive products. On that note, we are the team that manages and organises the free confectionery, drinks and food that are present on show night, and support in the running of pre-show led up events which are sponsored by numerous organisations.
Favourite thing about DUCFS?
The people, particularly the contagious energy and enthusiasm that is possessed by everyone you come across and work with, the joyous scenes are blissful and this really creates an enjoyable experience, nothing feels like tedious university work!
What has been your team’s highlight so far?
Whenever we sign a partner as this is a testament to the team’s dedication and commitment to negotiating and creating a tailored value-add strategy that works for the partner and DUCFS. Perhaps our most important achievement has been securing the targeted number of platinum drinks sponsors for our interactive and immersive drinks reception which all guests get to enjoy this year!
What has been the biggest challenge?
Picking ourselves up from rejection. There are countless organisations out there that we believe would make unrivalled partners to support DUCFS, however with individual organisational objectives in mind, we more often than not hear a no from top-tier brands, that is even if we receive a response, which 95% of the time we don’t! Whilst, it is hard to hear no, especially following promising conversations, the partners we are working with in 2023 truly want the best for our campaign and we could not be more excited about our collaborations.
What about the show are you most excited for?
To share our exclusive financial and product partners with you this year! The team has worked tirelessly to secure industry leading organisations and it will be extremely rewarding to see our efforts become a reality, most importantly through seeing all attendees enjoy the products and brand services provided by our partners on show nights. It fills me with joy that the partnerships team is able to play a huge role in creating an immersive, unforgettable and professional-like-fashion show experience to Durham students and other guests who attend.
Logistics Team- Kate Davies (Head of Logistics)
Describe your DUCFS experience in 3 words
Inspiring, Challenging & Fun.
How is your team made up?
It consists of myself (Head of Logistics), Poppy James (Model Coordinator) and Jess Beeson (Venue Director).
What does your team do?
A wide range of things! I oversee the logistics for the show itself and a plethora of pre-show events, working closely with the events team on this. This ranges from big events like our Market Square Takeover to smaller fundraising events. For the show itself I work with Jess (Venue Director) to ensure that all the operational/practical sides of the show are prepared, ranging from tech for the show to the coaches! On Poppy’s side of things she’s in charge of overseeing the welfare of all of the DUCFS models and also running our college rep program which we have taken to the next level this year by expanding it and also creating a closer focus on them running their own events.
Favourite thing about DUCFS?
All the amazing, inspiring & fun people we get to work with on a daily basis! I feel very lucky to be surrounded by fabulously creative individuals who are constantly pushing themselves out of their comfort zone in order to create an innovative DUCFS 2023 campaign.
What has been your team’s highlight so far?
The success of the college rep program and the smooth running nature of the model auditions which credit should be given to Poppy James for her enthusiasm! Also coordinating FIXR ticket sales with Jack (Vice-President Operations) and seeing our show sell out in a matter of seconds!!
What has been the biggest challenge?
The Market Square Takeover Event. After months of planning this event including getting council permission, speaking to different parties involved, and arranging for different brands to come up from London, the day before due to high winds we had to move from outside to a new inside location. In the space of one evening we had to re-brand the event and logistically plan its new format, ensuring it ran smoothly so that the event was a big success and we maintained our professional reputation with the partnered brands involved. The event was a big success due to the exec’s calm demeanour, division of tasks and open communication between the logistics, marketing, partnerships and events teams. We ended up raising several thousand pounds for the Rainbow Trust and pulling off a very successful event!
What about the show are you most excited for?
To see everyone’s hard work over the last 9 months come together for what is set to be an amazing show! I think that the electric energy/atmosphere when the countdown for the show to begin ends and the soundtrack for the first walk starts is unmatched! Also, the charity total announcement on the final evening where we reveal how much we have raised for the Rainbow Trust will definitely be a special moment!
